The New Orleans Pelicans are still searching for their 20th win of the season, and it is March. A 19-44 record for most teams would lead to them mailing it in and tanking to snag a top draft spot. Well, not the Pelicans. 

In a surprise move in the 2025 NBA Draft, the at-the-time newly hired executive Joe Dumars traded their 2026 first-round draft pick to the Atlanta Hawks to move up and select Derik Queen No. 13 overall. To make this move, they also gave the Indiana Pacers their own 2026 first-round pick back.

Now, the Pelicans are left without a top-30 selection in a ridiculously talented draft class. So, why not go for the play-in tournament?

That is exactly how Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray, a former All-Star, is looking at it. 

“Are we [the Pelicans] a contender? No. Can we reach the top 6 spot? No. Can we build some momentum playing together and build winning habits [in the] rest of the season? Yes,” Murray said in a post on X. 

Murray returned late last month after suffering a torn Achilles tendon midway through last season. The Pelicans won in his return against the Golden State Warriors, as Murray scored 13 points and dished out three assists. 

This is the first time in over a year that the Pelicans have had Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones and Murray on the floor at the same time. Forward Saddiq Bey has been catching fire recently. Queen and fellow rookie Jeremiah Fears can finally play without too much pressure on them. 

Injuries have also plagued the Pelicans for the past few seasons — so much so that players have said that the team is cursed — so it seems like they finally have a team on the floor with enough star power to win at least somewhat consistently. On paper, this team should be able to at least compete to the final buzzer against good teams.

The Pelicans also only made one trade before the trade deadline, which saw fan-favorite Jose Alvarado sent to the New York Knicks for Dalen Terry, who was later released for roster flexibility. They did not all-out sell.

Is this play-in push unlikely? Of course. The Los Angeles Clippers and Portland Trail Blazers, the teams that hold the final two play-in tournament spots, are well ahead of the Pelicans. They would both have to go well under .500 with the Pelicans winning at least two of every three games they play.

But why not win some games? Go out there, have some fun, get into a rhythm, put on a show and see what happens.